U.S. Regulators Advance Crypto Regulation After Clarity Act Stalls
U.S. regulators said they are prepared to use existing authority to advance crypto regulation after the Clarity Act stalled, though SEC Chair Paul Atkins said legislation remains preferable and is still expected to pass this year, The Wall Street Journal's Dylan Tokar reports. The delay followed Coinbase's (COIN) withdrawal of support over stablecoin provisions, prompting regulators to coordinate oversight through a forthcoming agreement between the SEC and CFTC. Publicly traded companies in the space include Bit Digital (BTBT), Bitfarms (BITF), Circle Internet (CRCL), Core Scientific (CORZ), Greenidge Generation (GREE), Mara Holdings (MARA), Riot Platforms (RIOT), Strategy (MSTR), Stronghold Digital Mining (SDIG) and TeraWulf (WULF).
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Fidelity Investments Launches Digital Dollar Stablecoin
- Market Competition Intensifies: Fidelity Investments is set to launch the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD) stablecoin in February, aiming to compete directly with Circle's USDC and Tether's USDT, which dominate the $308 billion stablecoin market.
- Compliance Assurance: Issued by Fidelity Digital Assets, FIDD complies with the GENIUS Act, ensuring that each FIDD token is backed by $1 in cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries, thereby enhancing investor confidence.
- Technical Advantage: FIDD will operate on the Ethereum network, allowing users to transfer it on Fidelity's crypto platforms and major exchanges, supporting decentralized finance protocols and improving payment flexibility and efficiency.
- Strategic Timing: Mike O'Reilly from Fidelity stated that the GENIUS Act provides a clear regulatory framework for stablecoin operations, making the launch of FIDD a strategic decision that further solidifies its role as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based payments.

Launch of USDU: UAE's First Central Bank-Approved Stablecoin
- Market Competition: Universal Digital launched USDU on Thursday, becoming the UAE's first central bank-approved stablecoin, directly competing with Circle's USDC, marking a regulatory advancement in the UAE's digital asset landscape.
- Compliance Advantage: Backed by dollar reserves held at major UAE banks like Emirates NBD, Mbank, and Mashreq, USDU ensures compliance, as institutions must use USDU or convert to fiat to meet UAE settlement regulations.
- Strategic Partnership: Universal partnered with Aquanow, regulated under Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, to integrate USDU into the broader crypto ecosystem through Aquanow's network of regulated providers, enhancing market acceptance.
- Investor Opportunities: For institutions operating in the UAE, USDU offers a compliant settlement option, strengthening ties with local banks and gaining central bank approval, thus supporting the UAE's strategic goal of becoming a major crypto hub.









